Al-Nassr missed the chance to seal the Saudi Pro League title after a dramatic 1-1 draw against rivals Al-Hilal at Alawwal Park on Tuesday. A bizarre own goal from Brazilian goalkeeper Bento in stoppage time canceled out Simakan’s first-half opener, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo’s side needing a win in the final matchday to secure the championship.
The result keeps Al-Nassr top of the table with 83 points, but the title race will go down to the wire. Jorge Jesus’s team must beat Damac on May 21 to confirm their Saudi Pro League triumph without relying on other results.
Al-Hilal came close to taking an early lead when Karim Benzema received a perfect pass inside the box and fired a first-time shot, only for Bento to make a fine save. Al-Nassr responded through Cristiano Ronaldo, who broke into the left side of the area but saw his effort stopped by Bono. In the 36th minute, Simakan capitalized on a goalmouth scramble following a corner kick, lashing home with his right foot to put the hosts ahead. Moments before halftime, Kingsley Coman stole a ball in the attacking third and hit the post with a powerful strike.
Al-Nassr dropped their intensity in the second half, allowing Al-Hilal to push for an equalizer. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic attempted a volley from the right side of the area, but Bento made another solid save. Deep into stoppage time, Al-Hilal launched a long throw into the box, and the Brazilian goalkeeper — under pressure from Iñigo Martínez — rushed out of his area, misjudged the ball, and deflected it into his own net to level the score in the most unfortunate fashion.
The result means Al-Nassr must win their final match against Damac to guarantee the league title. A draw or loss would hand the advantage to their rivals, making next week’s fixture a must-win affair for Ronaldo and his teammates.
